STUDY OP FRUITS AND SEEDS. 241 



examined. In the Ash the spiral twist upon the " wing'* 

 should be noted. Some observations ought also to be 

 made in the neighbourhood of these trees, when it will be 

 found that large numbers of the fruit fall quite close to 

 the parent tree. But it is to be observed how the fruits 

 after they have fallen are liable to be stirred by the wind 

 from time to time and eventually carried some distance. 



NUT 



Fig. 115. Fruit of Hornbeam. 



If Ash and Sycamore fruits are looked for in the early 

 spring many will be found caught in loose soil by the 

 wing sticking in the ground, so that it sometimes acts as a 

 holdfast until the seed has germinated. These wings are 

 outgrowths of the wall of the fruit itself. 



In the Lime there is a large lanceolate bract attached 

 to the flower stalk on which the fruits (nuts) are borne 

 (Fig. 114). In the Hornbeam fruit also a broad wing-like 

 bract is attached (Fig. 115). 



Another familiar example is the fruit of the Dock, which 

 has three keel-like expansions which are of service in the 

 scattering of the fruit. 



Before leaving the subject of wind dispersal a note 

 should be made that here also as in many other of Nature's 

 processes relative success is sufficient to maintain the 

 various species. Many seeds fall in unsuitable places, yet 

 the species continue. This point should be verified by the 

 pupils. 



N. S. 16 



